Composition: Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)
| Title | Christ lag in Todes Banden |
| Alternative title | Christ lag in Todesbanden |
| Creators | Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) and Martin Luther (librettist) |
| Opus | BWV 4 |
| Instrumentation | soprano, alto, tenor, bass and orchestra |
| Number of movements | 8 |
| Keys | E minor |
| Composed | 1707 |
| First published | 1851 |
| Dedication | — |
| Tempo markings | — |
| Metronome markings | — |
| Time signatures | — |
| Average duration (sec) | 1200 |
| Number of measures | — |
| Composition types | Sacred cantatas |
| Language | German |
| Period | Baroque |
| View on IMSLP |  |
| Code |  |
Sections
| Title click for details |
Metronome | Key | Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinfonia | — | — | — |
| Chorus: Christ lag in Todes Banden | — | — | — |
| Duetto (sopranoalto): Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt | — | — | — |
| Aria (tenor): Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn | — | — | — |
| Chorus: Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg | — | — | — |
| Aria (bass): Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm | — | — | — |
| Duetto Aria (sopranotenor): So feiern wir das hohe Fest | — | — | — |
| Chorale: Wir essen und leben wohl | — | — | — |
Arrangements
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Selections | 5 recorders | R.D. Tennent |
| view | Selections | organ | Pierre Gouin |
| view | Selections | organ | Benjamin Righetti |
| view | Sinfonia (No.1) | 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos | Russ Bartoli |
| view | Chorus: 'Christ lag in Todes Banden' (No.2) | 3 recorders | Vincent Carpentier |
| view | Chorus: 'Christ lag in Todes Banden' (No.2) | cornett, trombone and continuo violin, viola and cello 2 violins and cello 2 violas and cello violin and 2 cellos viola and 2 cellos 3 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Duetto: 'Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt' (No.3) | cornett, trombone and continuo violin, viola and cello 2 violins and cello 2 violas and cello violin and 2 cellos viola and 2 cellos 3 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Duetto: 'Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt' (No.3) | organ | Peter Bækgaard |
| view | Duetto: 'Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt' (No.3) | organ | Juan Antonio Pedrosa |
| view | Aria: 'Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn' (No.4) | organ | Peter Bækgaard |
| view | Chorus: 'Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg' (No.5) | string quartet | Peter Lang |
| view | Duetto Aria: 'So feiern wir das hohe Fest' (No.7) | cornett, trombone and continuo violin, viola and cello 2 violins and cello 2 violas and cello violin and 2 cellos viola and 2 cellos 3 cellos |
Peter Lang |
Scores
| Details | Section | Type | Publisher | Date | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | 1st Version, BC A 54a (1707) | — | David Glenn Lebut Jr. | 2020 | Complete Score · view |
| view | 1st Leipzig Version, BC A 54b (1724) | — | David Glenn Lebut Jr. | 2020 | Complete Score · view |
| view | 2nd Leipzig Version, BC A 54b (1725) | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | 2nd Leipzig Version, BC A 54b (1725) | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | 2nd Leipzig Version, BC A 54b (1725) | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | 2nd Leipzig Version, BC A 54b (1725) | — | Fritz Brodersen | — | Complete Score · view Engraving files (Capella) · view |
| view | 2nd Leipzig Version, BC A 54b (1725) | — | — | — | Complete Score · view Engraving files (Finale) · view |
| view | 2nd Leipzig Version, BC A 54b (1725) | — | David Glenn Lebut Jr. | 2020 | Complete Score · view |
| view | 2nd Leipzig Version, BC A 54b (1725) | — | Ramon Casadesus-Masanell | 2021 | 1. Sinfonia · view 2. Chorus: 'Christ lag in Todes Banden & Halleluja' · view 3. Aria Duetto: 'Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt' · view 4. Aria: 'Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn' · view 5. Chorus: 'Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg' · view 6. Aria: 'Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm' · view 7. Aria Duetto: 'So feiern wir das hohe Fest' · view 8. Chorale: 'Wir essen und leben wohl' · view Engraving files (MuseScore) · view |
| view | 2nd Leipzig Version, BC A 54b (1725) | — | — | — | 3. Aria Duetto: 'Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt' · view |
| view | Complete | parts | Manuscript | 1700 | Complete Parts · view Complete Parts (full resolution) · view |
| view | Complete | parts | — | — | Cornetto (D) · view Trombone 1, 2, 3 · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas I · view Violas II · view Cellos/Basses · view Continuo (Organ) · view |
| view | Complete | parts | Fritz Brodersen | — | Cornetto · view Alto Trombone · view Tenor Trombone · view Bass Trombone · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas I · view Violas II · view Continuo (Cellos, Basses, Keyboard) · view |
| view | Complete | parts | — | — | Solo Voices · view Mixed Chorus · view Oboe · view Alto Trombone · view Tenor Trombone · view Bass Trombone · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas I · view Violas II · view Cellos/Basses · view Harpsichord · view |
| view | Complete | parts | Rein de Vries | 2019 | Violin I · view Violin II · view Viola I · view Viola II · view Continuo · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Novello | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Schirmer | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Fritz Brodersen | — | Chorus Score · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | — | — | Aria (bass): Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm · view Engraving File (MXML) · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Book (with score examples) · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Wir essen und leben wohl' (No.8) | — | — | — | Study Choral Score (Textless, D minor ) · view |
| view | Complete | Arrangement for 5 recorders |
— | — | Score (Nos.1, 3, 5, 7-8) · view Soprano Recorder · view Alto Recorder 1 · view Alto Recorder 2 · view Tenor Recorder · view Bass Recorder · view |
| view | Complete | Arrangement for organ |
Montréal: Les Éditions Outremontaises | 2015 | Nos.1, 3-4 · view |
| view | Complete | Arrangement for organ |
Benjamin Righetti | 2016 | Nos.1, 3-4 · view |
| view | Sinfonia (No.1) | Arrangement for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2016 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Chorus: 'Christ lag in Todes Banden' (No.2) | Arrangement for 3 recorders |
— | — | Complete Score (STB recorders) · view Engraving files (Mup) · view |
| view | Chorus: 'Christ lag in Todes Banden' (No.2) | Arrangement for cornett, trombone and continuo violin, viola and cello 2 violins and cello 2 violas and cello violin and 2 cellos viola and 2 cellos 3 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Duetto: 'Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt' (No.3) | Arrangement for cornett, trombone and continuo violin, viola and cello 2 violins and cello 2 violas and cello violin and 2 cellos viola and 2 cellos 3 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Duetto: 'Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt' (No.3) | Arrangement for organ |
— | — | Complete Score · view Complete Score ( D minor ) · view Transcription Information · view Engraving files (Finale) · view |
| view | Duetto: 'Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt' (No.3) | Arrangement for organ |
Juan Antonio Pedrosa | 2018 | Complete Score · view |
| view | Aria: 'Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn' (No.4) | Arrangement for organ |
— | — | Chorale tune in left hand · view Chorale tune in left hand (transposed to D minor ) · view Chorale tune in pedal · view Chorale tune in pedal, transposed to D minor · view Transcription Information · view Engraving files (Finale) · view |
| view | Chorus: 'Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg' (No.5) | Arrangement for string quartet |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts (original voicing) · view Complete Score and Parts (revoiced) · view |
| view | Duetto Aria: 'So feiern wir das hohe Fest' (No.7) | Arrangement for cornett, trombone and continuo violin, viola and cello 2 violins and cello 2 violas and cello violin and 2 cellos viola and 2 cellos 3 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
Recordings/Performances
| Details | Type | Section | Performers | Arranged for | Files | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Synthesized | — | — | Complete Recording · file | ||
| view | Synthesized | — | Fritz Lehmann (conductor) | — | Complete Recording · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Complete | — | 1. Sinfonia · file 2. Chorus: 'Christ lag in Todes Banden' · file 3. Duetto: 'Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt' · file 4. Aria: 'Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn' · file 5. Chorus: 'Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg' · file 6. Aria: 'Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm' · file 7. Duetto Aria: 'So feiern wir das hohe Fest' · file 8. Chorale: 'Wir essen und leben wohl' · file |
|
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Complete | — | 1. Sinfonia · file 2. Chorus: 'Christ lag in Todes Banden' · file 3. Duetto: 'Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt' · file 4. Aria: 'Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn' · file 5. Chorus: 'Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg' · file 6. Aria: 'Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm' · file 7. Duetto Aria: 'So feiern wir das hohe Fest' · file 8. Chorale: 'Wir essen und leben wohl' · file |
|
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Selections (Nos.1, 3, 5, 7-8) | For Recorders (Tennent) | Synthesized Performance · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Selections (Nos.1, 3-4) | For Organ (Gouin) | Synthesized Performance · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Aria: 'Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm' (No.6) | — | Synthesized Performance · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Duetto Aria: 'So feiern wir das hohe Fest' (No.7) | For Recorders (Carpentier) | Synthesized Performance · file |
©2025 David P. Anderson